With TeenCounseling.com, teens ages 13–19 can attend affordable out-of-pocket weekly video, phone, or live chat sessions. Over the past three years, two of our testers have spent hours reviewing the platform. We like how easy it is to sign up for the service, the ease of messaging with your teens therapist, and how knowledgeable therapists are about adolescent mental health. Teen Counseling earned 3.5 out of 5 stars during our independent review.
Editor's Note
Since our last update, Teen Counseling has gotten slightly more expensive, from $260–$360 to $280–$400 for a monthly subscription.
This is in line with rising costs from competitors across the mental health landscape, and matches the current pricing model for BetterHelp, its parent company.
Teen Counseling at a Glance
Cost: $280–$400 monthly
Insurance Accepted: No
Teen Counseling Pros & Cons
Pros - Available in all 50 US states
- Teen has access to a personal chatroom with their therapist
- Unlimited text messaging with a therapist between sessions
- Same-day appointments often available
Cons - No insurance is accepted
- Monthly costs depend on location and availability
- Teens must have parent/guardian consent in order to have therapy
- No medication management available
Overview
Teen Counseling, an offshoot from BetterHelp, is a subscription-based online therapy platform for teens 13–19 years old across the US. During our independent review of its services, it earned an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. Teens can attend weekly video, phone, or live texting sessions, and have access to messaging with their therapist between live sessions. Teen Counseling costs $280–$400 monthly (advertised as $70–$100 weekly), making it an affordable out-of-pocket therapy option for teens.
When I tried out Teen Counseling, I was offered a session to meet with a therapist who would be available to meet with my child. During that session, the therapist was very helpful in regards to expressing what skills they like to focus on with their clients and how they incorporate parents into that process.
While Teen Counseling is a great option for online therapy, if you are looking for therapy along with other helpful features like a “goals and rewards” platform and an AI chatbot, Manatee is a great option. Or, if you’re looking for psychiatry and therapy bundled together, Brightside Health could be an excellent choice.
Detailed Review of Teen Counseling
Teen Counseling is a subscription-based online therapy platform for teens 13–19 years old. This BetterHelp subsidiary has over 11,000 therapists and offers weekly 30- to 45-minute live video, phone, or texting sessions with costs ranging from $280–$400 monthly. A great perk for teens and their parents/guardians is the option to send messages to their therapist in between sessions and generally receive responses within 24 hours. Teen Counseling does not accept insurance.
Review our scoring criteria for online therapy platforms here.
Review our complete editorial policies here.
Signing Up for Teen Counseling
Teens can create an account by going to the Teen Counseling website or by downloading the app. From there, they will answer questions about their symptoms and what their therapist preferences are. Ultimately, a parent/guardian will have to create an account, sign consent forms, and input payment before their teen can actually receive care.
Parents/guardians can sign up on their child’s behalf, but will need to add their teen to the account during the sign-up process or afterward. Teen Counseling will send an email link to your teen after you add them to the account, so it is important to make sure your teen has an active email address they access regularly.
Teens will be automatically matched with a therapist within 24–48 hours; however, if at any point they feel the match isn’t working out, they can easily change therapists and select one for themselves or get re-matched.
Therapy & Messaging
Once a parent or guardian signs up for TeenCounseling.com, they are matched with a therapist. Then, they can invite their child with a code. The therapist can communicate with the teen or their parent separately via the platform’s messaging service or live chat. Therapists are supposed to respond within 24 hours to any messages they receive.
Sessions on Teen Counseling can be held via live text chat, video, or phone call. Live sessions last 30–45 minutes depending on the therapist and the client’s needs.
Teens will usually attend the first live session with their parent/guardian present, so everyone can be on the same page about what to expect during the sessions. After the first session, the teen will have one-on-one sessions with just their therapist, which gives them the space to open up and feel comfortable.
Whatever the teen says to their therapist will stay between them, with a few specific exceptions: If a teen expresses the wish to harm themself or others or mentions any abuse or neglectful situations, the therapist will notify the correct people, including parents/guardians.
Therapists on Teen counseling are unable to diagnose the child.
Journaling Space
Much like its parent company, BetterHelp, Teen Counseling offers some extra features to help teens stay engaged in their therapy process. The journaling space offers a prompt or an option to choose prompts from a list, which is a great way to get teens started with a journaling habit. These journal entries can be shared with their therapist or they can choose to keep them private—it is totally up to the teen.
Cost & Insurance
Teen Counseling costs start at $280–$400 billed monthly (advertised as $70–$100 weekly) with the exact upfront costs depending on your location and therapist availability.
A Teen Counseling subscription includes:
- Weekly 30-minute live video, phone, or texting session for your teen
- Two personal chatrooms, one for the teen and one for the parent/guardian
- Unlimited texting with the therapist at any time, with responses to be expected at least once daily
Unfortunately, Teen Counseling does not accept insurance, nor will it provide a superbill as it cannot provide your teen with an official diagnosis. Teen Counseling, however, does offer financial aid through BetterHelp, its parent company, in some cases.
Who Does Teen Counseling Serve?
As a subsidiary of BetterHelp, Teen Counseling is available for teens ages 13–19 in all 50 United States and about 200 countries worldwide. Teen Counseling is intended as an option for teens experiencing mild-to-moderate mental health symptoms.
User Reviews
User reviews for Teen Counseling have generally been positive. Overall, it has good ratings from both app stores. It currently has a 4.7-star rating from 4.3k reviews in the Apple App Store and a 4.3-star rating from 1.4k reviews in the Google Play Store. Similar positive reviews can be found on both Trustpilot and Reddit.
Reviews from Reviews from Apple App Store | 4.7 stars out of 5 | 4.3k reviews
Positive reviews on the Apple App Store include finding good quality therapists on the Teen Counseling platform, easy-to-navigate therapist messaging boards, and quick contact with the customer service team.
Negative reviews on the Apple App Store include poor customer service, poor response time from both the customer service team and therapists, and poor quality of therapists.
Reviews from the Google Play Store | 4.3 stars out of 5 | 1.4k reviews
Positive reviews on the Google Play Store include quality therapists on Teen Counseling, reliable feedback from therapists, and fast availability of appointments for families.
Negative reviews on the Google Play Store include poor quality of therapists, poor response time from both the customer service team and therapists, and a lack of culturally diverse therapists.
Reviews from TrustPilot | 2.6 stars out of 5 | 68 reviews
Positive reviews on Trustpilot include connecting with a strong therapist, quick customer service support, and accessible sessions for families on Teen Counseling.
Negative reviews on Trustpilot mention canceled sessions on the platform, a hard-to-navigate app, and poor communication with therapists.
Alternatives & Competitors
Teen Counseling is a great choice for those looking for an easy and convenient way for teens and their families to dip a toe into the therapy world. Meanwhile, Manatee Health, Bend Health, and Talkspace for Teens may be better if you are seeking teen therapy that accepts insurance plans.
Manatee Health - Best for Parent Support
Price: $200–$220 a session
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Teen Counseling and Manatee Health both offer 30-minute online therapy sessions for teens, but Manatee Health offers services to a wider age range of children, from 4–18 years of age. While Teen Counseling is a subscription-based service, Manatee offers therapy at $200 per session after a $220 intake appointment. Manatee Health accepts select insurance plans, which could make the final price per session less than the out-of-pocket costs with Teen Counseling.
Both platforms offer great extra features in their apps, but Manatee offers more in regards to parent support than Teen Counseling.
While Teen Counseling is available in all 50 US states, Manatee is only available in California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas with plans to expand.
For more information about how exactly Manatee Health works, you can read our comprehensive review of Manatee.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Free app with various mental health resources for kids and parents
- Services available in English and Spanish
Cons - Not available nationwide
- No medication management or psychiatry services offered
Bend Health - Best for Comprehensive Care
Price: $199.99–$549.99 monthly
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Similarly to Teen Counseling, Bend Health offers subscription-based pricing. However, it offers far more services and models, including coaching, therapy, psychiatry, neuropsychological testing, and a virtual intensive outpatient program.
In contrast to Bend Health, Teen Counseling does not accept insurance, making it less suitable for individuals seeking coverage for their therapy expenses. Both are available in all 50 US states.
To learn more about the platform, you can check out our detailed review of Bend Health.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Services are provided in Spanish in addition to English
- Coaching, therapy, medication management, and testing available
Cons - Out-of-pocket costs can quickly add up if insurance plan is not accepted
Talkspace for Teens - Best for Insurance Coverage
Price: $276–$436 monthly
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Talkspace has an online therapy platform specifically dedicated to teenagers. Both platforms are available nationwide and offer a dedicated chatroom for teens to communicate with their therapist and come with the option of live video, phone, or text messaging sessions.
Talkspace has a higher out-of-pocket cost than Teen Counseling, with subscriptions starting at $246–$436 monthly, but it takes many major insurance plans while Teen Counseling does not.
For more information on the platform, check out our review of Talkspace.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Major health insurance plans are accepted
- Psychiatry and teen therapy are available
Cons - Monthly costs vary per user
- Higher cash-pay costs than competitors within the space
Why You Can Trust My Review
“I’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and reviewing online therapy platforms, including those designed specifically for children and teens. While I don’t have a teenaged child to test the platform from their perspective, the meeting I had with a provider on the platform was informative and reassuring that, depending on the therapist, parents and teens can find help through Teen Counseling.”
History & News About Teen Counseling
Year Founded: 2013
Parent Company: BetterHelp
Teen Counseling is a subsidiary of BetterHelp, one of the largest and most-established online therapy platforms in the US. There has been little press specifically about Teen Counseling as a standalone platform, and most attention has focused on BetterHelp as the parent company.
BetterHelp has had issues previously with privacy concerns (which included the Teen Counseling platform), leading to an FTC settlement in May of 2024 in which BetterHelp had to pay $7.8 million in refunds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Credentials Do Teen Counseling Therapists Hold?
Teen Counseling requires all of its providers to be accredited, trained, and experienced licensed psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, or professional counselors. They all must be certified in the state they live in, have at least three years of experience and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience, and have successfully completed all necessary exams and training.
How Is My Teen Matched With a Therapist on Teen Counseling?
After you or your teen sign up for an account, you will answer a brief questionnaire. There are questions about what symptoms your teen is experiencing (generally anxiety and depression assessment questions) and preferences in a therapist. After you pay, it takes between 24 – 48 hours to be matched with a therapist, sometimes sooner.
Can My Teen Choose a New Therapist?
Yes, you can easily change therapists, either in the app or on the website. When you click “more” on the bottom navigation bar, you will come to the settings screen. From here you can click “Change Therapist” and begin the process of changing to someone new. My teen was very pleased with their therapist match, so we did not go through the process of finding a new one at this time.
Does Teen Counseling Offer Financial Aid?
Teen Counseling offers financial aid through BetterHelp, its parent company, in some cases. Some circumstances include being a student, having a low income, or being unemployed.
How Much Does Teen Counseling Cost?
Teen Counseling ranges from $280–$400 monthly. The costs are not disclosed until you finish the onboarding process.
Which States Require Parental/Guardian Consent?
Each state and territory of the US has very different rulings about when parental/guardian consent is needed for the mental health care treatment of a minor. Generally speaking, teens under the age of 18 will need consent from the adult in their lives, but there are a few exceptions to this rule of thumb. In many states, teens who have been emotionally, mentally, or sexually abused can seek in-person mental health treatment without the consent of their parent/guardian.
Can I Reschedule My Therapy Session On Teen Counseling?
Teen Counseling live sessions are scheduled therapy sessions between the teen and their therapist. Users are able to reschedule by messaging their therapist on the platform through the live chat with their therapist or through Teen Counseling’s messaging section.
Can I Use My HSA/FSA for Teen Counseling?
Teen Counseling does not currently accept FSA or HSA cards to pay for therapy and will not create superbills. There is an option to apply for BetterHelp financial aid during the sign-up process.
How Do I Cancel My TeenCounseling.com Subscription?
It is very simple to cancel your Teen Counseling account in the app. Go to “more” and click on “My Account,” then scroll down to “Payment Settings.” You will see the option to “Change Membership/Quit Therapy,” simply click on this and select “Quit Therapy.”
Does Teen Counseling Issue Refunds?
Teen Counseling will offer refunds on a case-by-case basis and you can contact them at [email protected] for more information.
Can Teen Counseling Be Reimbursed By My Insurance?
Therapists on the Teen Counseling platform cannot submit claims to health insurers. However, Teen Counseling accepts HSA/FSA cards and is recognized as an eligible expense by most HSA/FSA providers.
Is TeenCounseling.com HIPAA Compliant?
BetterHelp (Teen Counseling’s parent company) has policies that are consistent with HIPAA standards, however, the company does not state that it is compliant with HIPAA regulations. Prior to any sessions (messaging or live sessions), you will be required to sign a form agreeing to their privacy policies. To read more, please visit BetterHelp’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All of the therapists on the BetterHelp platform have HIPAA obligations under their licensure. The therapists on BetterHelp also have robust requirements mandated by BetterHelp’s Data Processing Agreement. However, BetterHelp is technically not regulated by HIPAA because they are not a “covered entity” under the statute.
When people ask about HIPAA, most often they are concerned about their privacy and security. To that end, BetterHelp has implemented a robust set of privacy and security policies and technology solutions, including:
- State-of-the-art technology, operations, and infrastructure with the goal of protecting your privacy and safeguarding the information you provide
- Messages between you and your therapist are secured and encrypted by banking-grade 256-bit encryption. Additionally, you can always select the “Remove Message” button to remove messages that you’ve sent to your therapist.
- Databases are encrypted and scrambled so they essentially become useless in the unlikely event that they are stolen or compromised.
Is TeenCounseling.com Legit?
Yes, Teen Counseling is legit. It’s part of BetterHelp, a well-known telehealth therapy platform that allows communication between users and therapists in an affordable, discreet, and accessible environment. Their licensed therapists have a variety of credentials and are matched to users according to their expertise and knowledge of the user’s lived experiences.
ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
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Teen Counseling (n.d) Crunchbase. Retrieved May 30, 2022, from: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/teen-counseling
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Neporent, L. (2023, March 6). BetterHelp mental health app faces $7.8m FTC fine for sharing private user data. Psychiatrist.com. Retrieved from: https://www.psychiatrist.com/news/Teen Counseling-mental-health-app-faces-7-8m-ftc-fine-for-sharing-private-user-data/
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BetterHelp Customers Will Begin Receiving Notices About Refunds Related to a 2023 Privacy Settlement with FTC. (May 6, 2024). Federal Trade Commission. Retrieved from: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/05/betterhelp-customers-will-begin-receiving-notices-about-refunds-related-2023-privacy-settlement-ftc
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Suarez-Angelino, Lena. (March 1, 2024). Manatee Health Review: Pros & Cons, Cost, & Who It’s Right For. ChoosingTherapy.com. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/manatee-health-review/
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Lieberman, Allison. (May 1, 2025). Bend Health Review: Pros & Cons, Cost, & Who It’s Right For. ChoosingTherapy.com. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/bend-health-review/
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Church, Matthew. (March 14, 2025). Talkspace Review: Pros & Cons, Cost, & My Experience. ChoosingTherapy.com. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/talkspace-review/
We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.
Author: Abigail Rueger, MA (New Author)
Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, M.D. (No change)
Primary Changes: Changed formatting to match current style. Updated pricing from $260–$360 to $280–$400. Updated competitor pricing information. Fact-checked and edited entire article for readability and clarity.
Author: Michelle Liu, MPH. (No change)
Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, M.D. (No change)
Primary Changes: Revised answer about HIPAA-compliance in FAQ to better reflect BetterHelp policy.
Author: Michelle Liu, MPH. (New Author)
Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, M.D. (New Reviewer)
Primary Changes: Added new and updated content for Teen Counseling; Added first-hand experience from author; Reviewed summary and features.
Author: Caitlin Bell, M.A. (No Change)
Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, M.D. (No Change)
Primary Changes: Added review summary and features.
Author: Caitlin Bell, M.A. (No Change)
Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, M.D. (No Change)
Primary Changes: Updated costs throughout.
Author: Caitlin Bell, M.A. (No Change)
Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, M.D. (No Change)
Primary Changes: Reassessment of Teen Counseling; Updated cost; Updated screenshots/images; Added first-person point-of-view; style updates throughout.
Author: Caitlin Bell, M.A.
Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, M.D.
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